Honda’s upcoming WN7 electric motorcycle may have just picked up a prestigious Gold iF Design Award, but the real story here is more than the accolades it’s what the bike represents for the future of mainstream electric motorcycles from legacy manufacturers.
For years, electric motorcycles have struggled with an identity problem. Many leaned too far into futuristic, almost alien-looking designs, while others awkwardly tried to mimic gas bikes with fake tanks and unnecessary styling cues. Honda seems to have taken a different approach with the WN7: just build a good motorcycle, and let the electric bits fit naturally.
And that might be exactly why it’s getting attention.
Officially launched for pre-order late last year, the WN7 looks more like a proper naked bike, albeit still a bit futuristic. The stance is familiar, the proportions are balanced, and it carries a silhouette that wouldn’t feel out of place next to Honda’s own CB-series streetfighters. But look closer, and you start to see how differently it’s been engineered.
Instead of hiding the battery, Honda made it central – literally. The WN7 uses a frameless design where the battery acts as a structural element, helping reduce weight while simplifying the overall architecture. It’s a clean, honest approach that avoids the overcomplication we’ve seen in many other electric motorcycles.
Performance-wise, the WN7 lands squarely in the middleweight category. It produces around 50 kW (67 horsepower) and 100 Nm of torque, offering the kind of real-world performance that’s quick enough for spirited riding but still approachable for everyday use. That puts it in a sweet spot for commuters and weekend riders alike.
Charging is handled via CCS fast charging, with Honda claiming a 20% to 80% recharge in about 30 minutes. That’s a key detail that signals the bike is designed for actual daily usability. The 9.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, is around average for a bike of this size, with the company that urban commuting should net a range of approximately 130–140 km (roughly 80–87 miles).
And perhaps importantly, the bike isn’t not far off. The WN7 has already gone on sale in parts of Europe at the equivalent of around US $17,000.
The price is certainly steep for what you get, but with deliveries expected to begin soon, we should get our first chance to see if riders are connecting. And even if not, the release still makes it one of the first full-size electric motorcycles from a major Japanese OEM that feels truly production-ready.
If this is the direction that legacy manufacturers will begin taking electric motorcycles, towards familiar, functional, and thoughtfully engineered designs, then they may finally be ready to appeal to more than just early adopters. Of course, pricing will continue to be a major barrier, but for riders who consider the advantages of electric over just the price, the options are starting to look better.
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